I'm beginning to get my material together for The Shackletons of Whitehaven sequel which means gathering all the Whitehaven and district notes, emphemera, and objects I hope will inspire me. I have to say it's a labour of love. The Shackletons of Whitehavenamazon.co.uk/dp/B0BCWBF31D I've been rooting around in my shoe boxes and cupboards and I… Continue reading Whitehaven Farthing Token
The devil is in the detail - historical research.
My daughter asked me recently how I came up with the names for the characters in my books. Choosing them is actually something I really enjoy and I have several ways of doing it. Sometimes I just have it to hand and that's true of Stag in "New Beginnings on Vancouver Island". https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1913719383/ My hero was… Continue reading How to avoid C. Spray – getting your names right.
It would seem Mr Samuel Farrer was not a gentleman who settled his accounts promptly. He obviously enjoyed a tipple since on July 7th he took delivery of half a gallon of gin. From August 1st until December 1st he bought 6 dozen bottles of porter (dark stout). That's 72 bottles for three months. If… Continue reading Mr Samuel Farrer settles his spirits account – March 10th, 1855
If, like me, you enjoy reading gravestone inscriptions then Whitehaven will not disappoint. I like to read the names, ages and family connections. Whitehaven's gravestones are particularly interesting because often the places where people died reveal the trade and history of the town. The tombstone above is a point in case. Jeremiah Pattinson died aged… Continue reading Whitehaven’s Gravestones.
This receipt is an original one made out to John Whittle of 87 Queen Street, Whitehaven, on July 4th, 1854, in payment of a lamp and paving rate. I assume it's a local lighting and street tax akin to our commercial rates. I thought I would spend a a short while seeing if I could… Continue reading Tracing Mr Whittle of 87 Church Street, Whitehaven.
From Lorna's Command Centre 